The Power of Pause: Embracing Rest in Academia
Finger presses the pause button on wooden cubes.
Taking time to recharge is not just a luxury but a necessity for sustained excellence and well-being, especially in the fast-paced world of higher education, where the responsibilities and benefits of teaching, research, and service often seem ongoing.
Recent studies in cognitive science and psychology underscore the significance of downtime, sometimes called “wakeful rest”, for mental acuity and creativity. Research published by King and Nicosia (2022) in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that this type of rest, a period of quiet wakefulness, is critical for consolidating memories, reflecting on past experiences, and planning for the future. This particular brain mode is essential for integrating knowledge and generating new insights—processes at the heart of academic work.
Further still, the concept of “deliberate rest” proposed by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang (2016) in his book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less highlights the productivity benefits of strategic breaks. Pang’s work, drawing on historical examples and contemporary research, illustrates how periods of rest can enhance problem-solving abilities and foster innovation—skills vital to our roles as educators and researchers.
As we enter Furman’s winter break, we invite you to consider developing or expanding strategies to maximize your restorative time, whether that involves mindfulness, social connection, hobby integration, or “cognitive distancing” practices like reading a good book.
To celebrate our collective restorative behaviors, the FDC will enter anyone into a drawing who follows (or is already following) our Instagram account (@furmanfdc) and shares an image of your winter break restful activity using the hashtag #FUFDCrest. The winner receives a copy of one of our favorite restful books by Katherine May, Wintering.
If you don’t already, be sure to follow us for updates on FDC programs and faculty resources. As we co-create a culture that values rest and reflection, we enhance our collective capacity for innovation, empathy, and excellence in our academic pursuits. Taking time to pause and recharge is not a departure from our academic work—it’s an essential part of it. Here’s to a restful and rejuvenating season that will fuel our passion and creativity in the year to come!